Hunter Nation Calls on Governor Evers (Wisconsin) to Reopen Public Lands
April 9, 2020
For immediate release:
Please contact Luke Hilgemann or Tyler Ruhland for further comment:
[email protected] or [email protected]
Hunter Nation Calls on Governor Evers to Reopen Public Lands
On April 9, 2020, at the direction of the state’s governor, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources closed 40 of the state’s public parks, forests and recreational areas including 10s of thousands of acres that had been previously open to hunting, fishing, hiking, and other outdoor pursuits.
Hunter Nation CEO, Luke Hilgemann responded, “Rather than rushing to close the parks due to increased activity, Governor Evers should work with local groups including hunt clubs, conservation groups and others who I’m sure would be willing and able to help maintain these vital public resources during this time.”
“Hunter Nation is committed to preserving and protecting the rights of American hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. We won’t stand by and watch bad decisions like this go unchallenged. We have established an online petition at HunterNation.org to allow citizens to easily add their voice to our call to open these public lands.” Hilgemann added. “Closing down all of these areas will also significantly limit the ability of the hundreds of thousands of hunters who take to Wisconsin’s woods, waters and wildlands every year to pursue their passion for the outdoors – an activity that is, at its core, America’s most traditional form of “social distancing.”
Head of the Wisconsin chapter of Hunter Nation, Tyler Ruhland said, “Closing Wisconsin public lands to hunting does nothing to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. This is a very direct infringement on our constitutional right to hunt. With our Spring turkey season just days away this is a direct attack on Wisconsin's hunters, especially thousands of young hunters who rely on access to public lands. The Governor must reverse course and keep public hunting land open.
Hunter Nation founder, Keith Mark echoed that sentiment, “At a time when the Department of the Interior and many states have waived admission fees into national and state parks to encourage Americans to practice social distancing on land owned by ‘We the People’, these decisions to ban access is confusing, at best. To me, it’s not about social distancing, but more an anti-hunting measure.”
Hilgemann concluded by adding, “The public has not been made aware of any request by the DNR to close these parks. We’ve been shown no reports or science that backs up a decision like this. This is purely a political decision that is being made in a vacuum inside the walls of bureaucracy in Madison to pander to the fear mongers and elitists who don’t support our outdoor lifestyle anyway. In the end, this knee-jerk decision hurts families and good folks who depend on wild game for precious protein.”
Hunter Nation is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the Traditional American Values of God, Family, Country, Hunting, and Conservation by fostering unity and cooperation among the nation’s outdoor enthusiasts. As America’s fastest-growing grassroots hunting and conservation organization, Hunter Nation works tirelessly to educate and inform citizens and elected officials of the importance of the proper management of wildlife and the prudent conservation of their supporting ecosystems for the benefit of all. The Hunter Nation leadership and advisory team are the most noted and influential group ever assembled for this cause and invite new members to visit hunternation.org to lend their support and join today. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
For more information, contact [email protected]
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